Elena woke to the sound of rain pattering against the window. Gray light filtered into the room. She wiggled in the bed in an attempt to distance herself from the dismal weather. She only made it a few inches before colliding with Elijah's warm chest; he instinctively draped his arm across her waist. She giggled when his breath fanned over her neck.
"Good morning, lovely Elena," Elijah breathed against her throat causing her to giggle again. She raised a hand to protect herself from his breath. "Are you ticklish, darling?"
"No," Elena denied vehemently.
Elijah having found an opening became persistent. He was now determined to find every ticklish spot on her body.
"You're a teacher Elena," Elijah wiggled his finger over her cloth covered abdomen. He smiled when he saw the grin she fought to hide. "You should know better than to lie to one."
"Who's lying?" Elena squirmed under his fingers.
"If you're not going to admit it," Elijah smirked and rolled to pin her to the bed. "I'll just have to prove it."
Elijah proceeded to run his hands over her wriggling body. He grinned when he found what he was looking for. As his fingers made contact with her sides she erupted in laughter.
"Elijah!" Elena shrieked and tried to push his hands away. "Stop please," Elena panted. Her cheeks were beginning to ache from all of the laughter.
"Admit you are ticklish," he paused in his ministrations to give her a chance to speak. He watched her bright eyes and flushed cheeks; he thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
"Never!"
"Very well," Elijah pressed his fingers against her hips again. He had barely begun when she gave in.
"Alright," Elena pressed her palms against his chest. "I admit it," she panted, "I admit I'm ticklish." She raised her right leg to hook over his waist. She flipped them over to straddle his hips; from her new vantage point she smirked down at him. "What about you? Do you have any ticklish spots?"
"Yes," Elijah trapped her roaming hands with his, "but I'm not about to tell you where they are."
The December chill had withdrawn from the area around the bed. Elena felt warmth in every fibre of her body. He had made her laugh on a day she thought it would be impossible. She decided right then that she wanted him to stay always; if for no other reason than to make her laugh.
"I love you," she laughed when his fingers started ghosting over her hips again. His hands froze and grasped her waist.
Oh crap, Elena drew in a sharp breath, I said that out loud. Her eyes searched desperately for something else to focus on. "I-I-I-,"
Elijah silenced her with a finger on her lips. He stared at her flushed cheeks. "I love you, too."
Her eyes snapped up to look at him. He took the opportunity to gaze into her eyes; a small smile graced his face. A grin bloomed across her face.
"Yeah?"
"Yes," Elijah chuckled and trailed a finger down her cheek. "I love y- ."
Elena's lips moved firmly against his affectively cutting him off. One hand cupped the back of his neck while the other scraped against his morning stubble. Deepening the kiss Elijah gently flipped them over again; his hand slowly slipped up her side to rest against her ribs. They were interrupted by the doorbell.
"That'll be Finn," Elijah gasped when he glanced at the clock.
"I should probably change then," Elena grinned standing up. "I wouldn't want to meet your big brother in my pajamas."
Elijah ogled the silky material at her back before agreeing that it would be best for her to change.
Katherine had woken up to the sound of her sister's laughter. The shrieks had penetrated the walls. Katherine might have been upset if she hadn't gone to bed so early.
She slid her feet into a pair of fuzzy slippers sitting by the bed. Picking up the sweater she had thrown at the foot of the bed Katherine made her way to the kitchen.
The laughter faded when she reached the first floor. By the time she had poured herself a glass of orange juice and started making toast the laughter had ceased. Katherine assumed they were too busy doing other things to laugh.
Katherine felt a flutter in her abdomen when the doorbell rang; it was like a cricket had run across her stomach. Making her way towards the door her hand came to rest on her baby bump.
Rising up onto her tiptoes to look through the peephole she saw a man there that she didn't recognize. She rubbed the fluttering area before dropping her hand to open the door.
"Hello," the man smiled at Katherine and introduced himself, "I'm Finn Mikealson."
"Elijah's brother?" Katherine opened the door a little more when he nodded. She could definitely see the family resemblance. "What are you doing here?"
"He called last night," Finn tightened his scarf, "to tell me his girlfriend needed some legal counsel. I'm assuming you're her?"
"No," Katherine stiffened. She remembered the way that Damon had always compared the two of them; he had tried to turn her into Elena. "I'm her sister."
"My apologies," Finn said smiling down at her. "I saw a picture of her once, and just assumed."
"Finn," Elijah greeted as he walked down the stairs two at a time to stand behind Katherine.
"Why does Elena need a lawyer?" Katherine frowned at Elijah over her shoulder.
"I don't," Elena stopped on the stairs. She locked eyes with her sister. "He's here for you." Elena finished her descent down the stairs. "I thought you could use a second opinion, and Elijah recommended his brother." Elena motioned to Finn still standing on the doorstep. "Why don't you let him in before he freezes to death?"
"Come on in," Katherine stood aside and closed the door behind him. "I'm Katherine by the way."
"It's nice to meet you Katherine," Finn smiled turning to look at Elena. "And you must be Elena. Elijah you didn't mention that your girlfriend had an identical twin sister."
"Are they identical?" Elijah questioned. "I hadn't noticed."
